Church of St Nicholas, Castle Hedingham (EHER 6784)

Parish Church. About 1180 chancel, nave, north and south aisles (with 14th century eastern bays), and clerestory. 15th century north vestry. 16th century red brick tower. 16th century red brick porch with diapering. 19th century organ chamber and restorations. Mainly of flint rubbles with stone dressings. Mainly red tiled roofs with some lead. The church was built on the site of the early 12th century Church of St James.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 6784, 6785, 6786, and 25238. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: St Nicholas's Church, on site of St James's Church (NR). <1> The church walls are usually flint rubble with stone dressings, though the tower, porch and parapets are in red brick. The roofs are lead and slate covered. Foundation of an early 12th century apsidal chancel are said to have been found within the present chancel. Chancel, nave, north and south aisles date from about 1180. An arch was inserted each side of the first bay of the nave in the 14th century. The north vestry was added in the 15th century, the south porch in the early 16th century. The parapets of nave and chancel were rebuilt early in the 16th century. Features and fittings include: windows of about 1180, 1350, 15th century, 16th century, including a 12th century wheel window in the chancel east gable; late 12th century and 15th century doorways; a moulded label, not "in situ", in the tower, has devises of John, Earl of Oxford, who died in 1512; chancel roof is probably 14th century; nave roof is early 16th century; a bell is by Richard Hille (1423-1440). There are late 12th and 15th century doors; a locker in the chancel is late 12th century. There is an important monument, an alter tomb, of 1539 to John, Earl of Oxford and Elizabeth his wife; a niche is 14th century; there is 13th or 14th century painting; a late 14th or 15th century screen; 14th century sedilia; 14th to early 15th century stalls; early 12th and 16th century stoups; an early 12th century carved figure of a praying woman, in the south aisle built into the south wall. Site Assessment = The church is of great interest for the 12th century wheel window in the chancel, the 12th century nave arcade, 12th century doors, early 14th century nave roof, 15th century stall work, and Vere monument of 1539. In good condition according to RCHM, though tower arch was slightly out of shape due to settlement. In the early 17th century the nave was shortened by one bay at its west end and the west tower was built (dated 1616). In the 19th century the church was restored; the organ chamber is 'modern'. 17th century brickwork of the tower, porch and parapets is noteworthy. The west tower date is from a stone inscription built into the tower over the west window with the message 'Robert Archer the master builder of this stepell 1616'. The tower has a stair turret and embattled parapet. The tower is of red brick with stone dressings. The clock-bell is dated 1697. A chest in the south aisle is early 17th century, as is a cupboard in the tower. There are 17th century monuments and floor slabs in the church. A table in the vestry is 17th century in date. Various stones in the tower have carved initials. Site Assessment = Noteworthy brickwork, 17th century, of tower, parapet, porch. <2> <3> Church of St Nicholas, grade A. An almost complete example of a late Norman parish church with the exception of the west tower, rebuilt about 1616 and the 16th century south porch. <4> Church of St Nicholas. Parish church. About 1180 chancel, nave, north and south aisles (with 14th century eastern bays), and clerestory. 15th century north vestry. 16th century red brick porch with diapering. 19th century organ chamber and restorations. 19th century corbels to north and south walls. Piscina and sedilia have 19th-20th century doorways to north and west walls of the vestry. 19th to 20th century west wall window to nave. 17th century panelling in south-east corner of south aisle. West tower was restored in 1616, has an 18th century cupola, and a 17th century door. The three Norman doors and doorways, the double hammer beam roof and misericord together with the Norman structure and late brick tower make this church one of the most outstanding in Essex. RCHM 1. Grade I. <5> The tower is largely 16th century according to Pevsner. The front of a cupboard in the tower is made up of 17th century panels. <6> Some good 18th century head and footstones in 'tidied' churchyard. Reused material in the church fabric including a lump of 'opus signinum'. Roman finds have been made nearby. "The....crisp stone dressings in this church are a model to emulate.... Archaeologically, there are many problems to be solved....". Plate is 18th century silver. <7> - <9> Castle Hedingham church. Foundations of earlier apsidal chancel within present chancel. <10> See also: <11> - <19>